Support seat for valves

ABSTRACT

A valve useful in water or hydraulic fluid systems is provided with a stem having two spaced working surfaces, the upper surface fixed to a diaphragm, and the lower surface adapted to seat with a peripheral raised valve seat in the base of a cage-like member having vertically extending guide members for the lower working surface, which, at a point above the guide range, flare outwardly to support and seat the upper working surface.

United States Patent 11 1 Treul Oct. 23, 1973 SUPPORT SEAT FOR VALVES Primary ExaminerArnold Rosenthal [75] Inventor: Frederick Florian Treul, wesflake Katz Wauwatosa, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Calgon Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

1 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1972 A valve useful in water or hydraulic fluid systems is [21] Appl' 277490 provided with a stem having two spaced working surfaces, the upper surface fixed to a diaphragm, and the 52 us. or. 251 612, 251/362 lower Surfeee adepted to Seat with a Peripheral raised 51 1111.131. F16k 31/145 valve seat in the base of a eage-like member having [58] Field of Search 251/362, 61.2, 61.3,. vertically extending guide members for the lower 251/61; 137/533 29 working surface, which, at a point above the guide range, flare outwardly to support and seat the upper [5 6] References Cited 9 working surface.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,223 3/1900 Bashline 251/362 X 3,001,537 9/1961 Shepherd et al... 137533.29 x 7 4 D'awmg F'gures Patented Oct. 23, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Get. 23, 1973. 3,767,159

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SUPPORT SEAT FOR VALVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to valves, and particularly to valves which are useful in the ion exchange water softening art. They may find use wherever it is desired to control the flow of hydraulic fluids compatible with the material of construction for the valve.

In Rudelick U. S. Pat. No. 3,187,771, a type of control valve is shown for which my improvement is particularly useful. The complete valve assembly employs several separate diaphragm valves made in identical form. This type of valve employs an upper and a lower pressure responsive surface, the upper surface being attached to a diaphragm and the lower surface seating in a valve opening. The two surfaces are connected by a stem which, by reason of the design of the Rudelick valve, must pass through a guide which is required to keep the lower working surface oriented directly towards the seat of the valve. This intermediate surface or guide of the Rudelick patent necessarily requires a piece of metal or other rigid material substantial enough to provide a significant guiding surface for the stem. The-guide is substantial enough that it in effect forms a second chamber'above its surface and below the diaphragm. This extra chamber must be vented and is subject to the introduction ofsome water from the stem or elsewhere which has created considerable corrosion problems in the chamber. 7

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have invented a valve which avoids the problems created by the aforementioned type of configuration for the valve shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,187,771. In addition, the valve of my invention has a far more universal application since it is operable by a simple pilot valve or a simple differential pressure as will be noted hereinafter. My invention includes the use of a unitary cage-like device which incorporates the valve seat at'its bottom, includes vertical guide elements which are substantially perpendicular to the base and linear for the distance of movement of the lower valve surface element, and which incorporates an upper seating surface for the diaphragm element, said upper seating surface having a larger diameter or area than the lower working valve area. Thus, the cage-like device may be described as an annular base defining a valve seat, an upper seating surface of larger area or diameter, and vertical guide members having outwardly flaring extensions to the upper seat member. This cage-like device may be cast, fabricated, machined or molded, preferably from a corrosion resistant and relatively impervious material, into a unitary connected single device. Within the cage-like device is a valve stem member having a lower working area, and an upper, diaphragm supporting, working valve area connected by a rigid, preferably uniform, stem. The lower working member will preferably contain a disc that contacts a raised portion, or valve seat, periferally on the base of the cage. The upper working surface will in many cases consist of two plates between which will normally be the diaphragm. Extending beyond the stem and above the diaphragm may be an extension of the stem member which may be adapted and designed to fit an upper guide such as a slot or groove in the upper valve housing or bonnet.

The upper valve housing, of course, completes an operating chamber above the diaphragm; the lower valve housing will accommodate the cage member with its stem and working surfaces inside; the housing includes a means for forming an inlet chamber below the cage member which is effectively sealed by placement of the lower working surface in its seat.

The device will be more particularly shown with reference to the figures, in which FIG. 1 is a cutaway overhead view of the cage,

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the cage taken at II,

and

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the entire valve assembly in the closed position, and

FIG. 4 is the same section in the open position showing the flow of the fluid.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an annular crown (10) is shown in a concentric relation with annular base (12), the crown (10) being supported by a plurality of upright elements (14).

It may be observed in FIG. 2 that the upright elements (14) are flared outwardly at a point about halfway in their height. The angle of flaring is dependent on the desired ratio of the diameters of the crown (l0) and the base (12). Base (12) includes a continuous circumferential raised valve seat (20) and, preferably, a channel (22) to accommodate a sealing device such as an O-ring.

In FIG. 3 the valve assembly is shown in its closed position, with the base (12) and upright elements (14) of the cage shown in a fixed position (but freely removable) with respect to the valve housing (30). The valve housing defines an inlet chamber (32) and an outlet chamber (34). The movable valve stem (36) includes a lower surface member (38) and upper surface member or diaphragm section (40). A flexible diaphragm (42) is held in place by an upper plate (44).

The valve is capped by a bonnet (46) which secures diaphragm (42) and is provided with a slot (48) for shaft (50) attached in a vertical orientation to the valve stem diaphragm section (40). In the closed position, resilient disc (52) rests in annular sealing contact on valve seat (20). The bonnet (46), diaphragm (42), and upper plate (44) form an overhead fluid pressure operating chamber (56).

In the open position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, fluid may pass from the inlet chamber (32) through valve chamber (58) in the cage and into outlet chamber (34). Movement of valve stem (36) is guided by support elements (14) and shaft (50) in slot (48).

When the valve is closed, movement is also guided by vertical elements (14) and shaft (50); in addition, it will be noted that proper seatingis aided by conformity of diaphragm section (40) to the contour of the flared support elements at the annular crown (10). Down ward movement of the valve stem is caused by the application of fluid pressure through port (54) into overhead chamber (56); when the pressure is removed, a difference in pressure between chambers (32) and (34) will open the valve and it will be kept open as long as no pressure greater than that difference is introduced through port (54). Normally the pressure introduced through port (54) will be the line pressure and equal to the pressure in chamber (32).

The cage-like device or valve guide I-employ provides relatively trouble-free control and guidance of the valve movement. It may be easily removed, which renders the valve simple to service. It may be made of polyphenylene oxide or other corrosion resistant material, preferably with a low coefficient of friction and low moisture adsorption properties. Preferably there are about eight support elements in it of approximately the proportions shown; however, as few as three or even a single support element will suffice if it will retain the lower surface member horizontally in place, i.e., at least at three points spaced a total of more than 180. Generally, it is preferred that the vertical supports should obstruct the flow of fluid as little as possible, and to this end, for best results, at least 96 percent of the available passage should be unobstructed; however, my invention is operable even with very high degree of obstruction, i.e., as high as 80 percent or higher. The cage enables the construction of a valve without a lower operating chamber; that is, the valve chamber (58) does not require a separate structure. Support elements (14) should be vertical for the distance of movement provided by flexure of the diaphragm. The distance moved should be sufficient so that no significant pressure loss is suffered due to the proximity of the lower working surface to the lower valve seat. Generally this distance will be at least about one-fourth the diameter of the diaphragm.

I claim:

1. A valve guide comprising (1) an annular base including a raised annular seat, (2) an annular crown of a diameter greater than the base, and (3) at least one upright element connecting the crown and base and including portions spaced a total of at least 180 around the base, said upright elements being perpendicular to the crown and base for a distance at least one-fourth the diameter of the base and thereabove flaring,outwardly to meet and connect said crown.

2. A valve assembly comprising a valve guide as in claim 1 in combination with a valve stem assembly having a lower surface member adapted to seat in the base and an upper surface member adapted to seat in said crown, said lower surface member being in contact with and retained within the upright support elements of the valve guide.

3. A valve assembly comprising (1) a valve housing including means for peripherally retaining a diaphragm to define an overhead fluid pressure operating chamber, and means for defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, (2) a valve guide having an annular base defining a valve seat adapted to be positioned between the inlet and outlet chambers, and an annular crown having a diameter greater than the base, and at least one upright element connecting the crown and base and including portions spaced a total of at least around the base, said upright elements being attached to and perpendicular to the base for a distance at least one-fourth the diameter of the crown and then flaring outwardly to meet and connect to said crown, (3) a valve stem element comprising a lower surface member adapted to seat on the base of said valve guide, an upper surface member, means connecting said upper surface member and said lower surface member, the lower surface member being adapted always to be in contaet with and retained by the upright support elements of the valve guide, and (4) a flexible diaphragm peripherally retained by said valve housing and attached to the upper surface member of the valve stem element to provide movement for said valve stem element.

4. The valve assembly of claim 3 in which the valve guide is free from attachments to the housing.

5. The valve assembly of claim 3 in which the base and crown of the valve guide are circular.

6. The valve assembly of claim 3 including a vertical extension of the valve stem element above the upper surface member to provide guiding means adapted to move in a complimentary guide in the housing.

7. The valve assembly of claim 3 including means in the crown of said valve guide for seating said diaphragm. 

1. A valve guide comprising (1) an annular base including a raised annular seat, (2) an annular crown of a diameter greater than the base, and (3) at least one upright element connecting the crown and base and including portions spaced a total of at least 180* around the base, said upright elements being perpendicular to the crown and base for a distance at least onefourth the diameter of the base and thereabove flaring outwardly to meet and connect said crown.
 2. A valve assembly comprising a valve guide as in claim 1 in combination with a valve stem assembly having a lower surface member adapted to seat in the base and an upper surface member adapted to seat in said crown, said lower surface member being in contact with and retained within the upright support elements of the valve guide.
 3. A valve assembly comprising (1) a valve housing including means for peripherally retaining a diaphragm to define an overhead fluid pressure operating chamber, and means for defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, (2) a valve guide having an annular base defining a valve seat adapted to be positioned between the inlet and outlet chambers, and an annular crown having a diameter greater than the base, and at least one upright element connecting the crown and base and including portions spaced a total of at least 180* around the base, said upright elements being attached to and perpendicular to the base for a distance at least one-fourth the diameter of the crown and then flaring outwardly to meet and connect to said crown, (3) a valve stem element comprising a lower surface member adapted to seat on the base of said valve guide, an upper surface member, means connecting said upper surface member and said lower surface member, the lower surface member being adapted always to be in contact with and retained by the upright support elements of the valve guide, and (4) a flexible diaphragm peripherally retained by said valve housing and attached to the upper surface member of the valve stem element to provide movement for said valve stem element.
 4. The valve assembly of claim 3 in which the valve guide is free from attachments to the housing.
 5. The valve assembly of claim 3 in which the base and crown of the valve guide are circular.
 6. The valve assembly of claim 3 including a vertical extension of the valve stem element above the upper surface member to provide guiding means adapted to move in a complimentary guide in the housing.
 7. The valve assembly of claim 3 including means in the crown of said valve guide for seating said diaphragm. 